Advance Vector Interactivity

Attendance and Completed Homework:
Section 001
Section 002
Section 501

DIGM 465, Advance Vector Interactivity, (Advance Vector Interactivity) builds upon basic knowledge of HTML, JavaScript, and Flash. Students in this course work with advance concepts in the flash authoring environment to better understand high end functionality and integration of vector based Internet multimedia-authoring programs with assorted browsers. Through a series of homework assignments, projects and class presentations, students examine real world problems and solutions in order to master advance Flash techniques, and action scripting. Students explore online resources of Flash in the fields of entertainment, streaming video, simulations, e-commerce. Role-play, group and individual instruction are used to gain a better understanding of the concepts, tools and social dynamics involved in the creation of effective and expressive interactive vector based media.

Midterm

NONE.

Final

Students will give class presentation (10 - 20 minutes) explaining how to accomplish one high-end technique in flash. Presentations will include but not limited to sample flash files, urls to reference material, online journal on research progress (CDROM). The student must be able to walk the class through the technique explaining problems and solutions. Students must be able to answer peer & instructor questions pertaining to their presentation.

Grading

  • 20% Class attendance & participation
  • 35% Homework (functionality, content, creativity)
  • 45% Final Presentation (Delivery, Knowledge, Style) [15, 15, 15]. Any grade 13/15 or below will be explained by instructor.

Equipment

  • Flash MX [2004] / Flash 8 for Windows and Macintosh : Visual QuickStart Guide.. Optional
  • Internet access to research Advance Flash resources
  • At least one form of media to to backup student work (i.e. CDROM, Flash drive, Firewire drive, etc.)
  • Headphones (If you want to listen to music while you work!)
Week 1

05 April - Introductions

Course Overview:
The cool thing about flash is....
Topics:
Some of the many flavors of Flash techniques
  • Character animation
    • Shape tweening
    • Frame/Cell based
  • Preloading whole flash movies.. easy
  • Preloading movieclips within flash movie.. intermediate
  • Reading text files
  • Reading xml files
  • Reading & Writing to MySQL databases
  • Bounce/Gravity animation
  • Masking video streams
  • Etc.
Homework for week 1

Due midnight the night before next class:

Submit via email to: jervis.thompson@drexel.edu, subject: "digm465hwk01s###jwt23" [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt23 with your drexel email account prefix]
Proposal of 3 Flash Techniques - url to your html page that lists 3 techniques that you want to explore in this class. Each technique should have a brief explanation (one paragraph) and at least one active url resource (tutorial, sample movie, etc).
Come to class ready to explain your 3 flash techniques in a short 5 minute presentation.
Sample
Week 2

12 April - Flash resources online

Topics:
5 minute technique Presentations
Class vote / topic assignments
Questions and answers
Homework for week 2

Due midnight the night before next class:

Submit via email to: jervis.thompson@drexel.edu, subject: "digm465hwk02s###jwt23" [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt23 with your drexel email account prefix]
Now that you have a specific technique, Collect as many resources as you can to research this technique. Samples, Tutorials, Lessons, etc. List all these items on your html page with links, descriptions, etc. Upload your "resource" web page to your web site and send me the URL. Keep in mind that all of these Homework assignments will be put together for your final journal CDROM and therefore should self contained and have a consistent professional look and feel.
Week 3

19 April - Flash recources offline

Topics:
5 minute technique Presentations [ James, Kara, & Joshua ]
Complete Resource review
Understanding your technique
  • Break-apart
  • experimenting
Homework for week 3

NONE. [ finalize hwk02 ]

Week 4

26 April - Adobe buyout of Macromedia. How will this effect flash developers?

Topics:
Individual resource review
Student created / recreated sample movies
Troy Finamore - Interactive Design presentation - UCross RM 030 - 1:00 pm
Homework for week 4

Due midnight the night before next class:

Submit via email to: jervis.thompson@drexel.edu, subject: "digm465hwk03s###jwt23" [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt23 with your drexel email account prefix]
Update your online journal on your web site and send me the URL.
Separate homework assignments one and two Add a third entry
Describe what you have learned about your technique thus far in one or two paragraphs.
Describe what you still need to learn about your technique in one or two paragraphs.
Week 5

03 May - Flash limitations, are there any?

Topics:
Where are we at now.
What yet needs to be done.
Homework for week 5

Due midnight the night before next class:

Submit via email to: jervis.thompson@drexel.edu, subject: "digm465hwk04s###jwt23" [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt23 with your drexel email account prefix]
Create a sample movie of your particular technique, zip it up and upload it to your web site, then send me the URL.
Flash movie should have ALL of the "parts/assets" you need for your final presentation.
Does not have to be fully functional.
Week 6

10 May - Internet of today.. Internet of the future

Topics:
Review student sample flash movie parts.
Questions and answers.
Week 7

17 May - Creativity verses Technology, which one should rule?

Topics:
One on one practise presentations
Questions and answers
Homework for week 7

Due midnight the night before next class:

Submit via email to: jervis.thompson@drexel.edu, subject: "digm465hwk05s###jwt23" [replace ### with your class section number, replace jwt23 with your drexel email account prefix]
Create the following, post to your web site and send me the URL.
  • A custom functional sample flash swf movie of your particular technique.
  • HTML outline of your class presentation.
  • A zipped copy of flash (*.fla) and support files.
Week 8

24 May - Last call for questions and answers

Topics:
Final Presentation reviews
Homework for week 8

Due at the start of next class:

Student CDROM should contain:
Folder named "digmAdvFlashSpr07_jwt23" replace "jwt23" with your drexel tag
  • Web journal - filename "index.htm" with links to
    • Presentation outline & notes
    • Sample flash & support files
Week 9

31 May - The Future of Interactivity on the internet

Topics:
Final Presentation / CDROM collection - Seniors
Week 10

07 June - For you: No more class!

Topics:
Final Presentation / CDROM collection - Juniors